in all the ponds, wells, lakes and tanks. He bowed down before all the
Vinayakas and prostrated himself before all the Gouris. He worshipped
Bhairava Kalaraja, who devours sins. He made efforts to praise all the
ganas, Dandanayaka being the foremost. He satisfied all the Keshavas,
Adikeshava being the most important. He repeatedly prostrated himself
before all the Suryas, Lolarka being the foremost. Attentively, he offered
pindas at all the tirthas. Pure in his atman, he instated the lingam known as
Vyaseshvara.1454 O brahmanas! When a man sees this, like Brihaspati, he
obtains all the different kinds of learning.’
‘He devotedly worshipped all the lingams, Vishvesha being the foremost.
Having done this, he wondered, “Which lingam will grant me siddhi
fastest? By worshipping which Mahadeva, will I be able to obtain every
kind of learning? Whose favours will grant me the capacity to compose all
the Puranas? Is it Omkaranatha, Krittivaseshvara, Kedaresha, Kamesha,
Chandresha, Trilochana, Kalesha, Vriddhakalesha, Kalashekhara,
Jyeshthesha, Jambukesha, Jaigishavyeshvara, Dashashvamedhamishana,
Drumichandesha, Drikkesha, Garudesha, Gokarnesha, Ganeshvara,
Prasannavadanesha, Dharmmesha, Tarakeshvara, Nandikesha, Nivasesha,
Patrisha, Pritikeshvara, Parvatesha, Pashupati, Hatakeshvara,
Brihaspatishvara, Tilabhandesha, Bharabhuteshvara, Mahalakshmisvara,
Marutesha, Mokshesha, Gangesha, Narmadeshvara, Krishnesha,
Parameshana, Ratneshvara, Yamunesha, Langalisha, the lord Vishveshvara,
Avimukteshvara, Vishalakshisha, Vyaghreshvara, Varahesha, Vidyeshvara,
Varunesha, Vidhisha, Harikesheshvara, Bhavanisha, Kapardisha,
Kandukesha, Ajeshvara, Vishvakarmeshvara, Vireshvara, Nadesha,
Kapilesha, Bhuvaneshvara, Vashkulisha Mahadeva, Siddhishvara,
Vishvadeveshvara, Virabhadresha, Bhairaveshvara, Amritesha, Satisha,
Parvatishvara, Siddheshvara, Matangesha, Bhutishvara, Ashadhisha,
Prakamesha, Kotirudreshvara, Madalaseshvara, Tilaparneshvara,
Hiranyagarbhesha or Madhyameshvara? Among such crores of lingams,
which one shall I seek refuge in?” With his atman full of devotion towards
Shiva, Vyasa thought in this way. Immersing his mind properly in dhyana,
he thought in this way for some time. The intelligent and patient Vyasa,
Satyavati’s son, decided the following. “I remember what I have been
instructed earlier. That will enable the accomplishment of my wishes. For
obtaining dharma, artha, kama and moksha, there is a lingam that is